Research Journal of Animal Sciences

Year: 2010
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
Page No. 16 - 22

Clinical and Diagnostic Study of Equine Babesiosis in Drought Horses in Some Areas of Basrah Province

Authors : K.M. Alsaad, Essra A. Alsaad and Hussein A. Al-Derawie

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical, haematological, biochemical changes, percentage of hemoparasite and c-Elisa test in naturally infected drought horses with babesiosis. The study were conducted on (115), drought horses (male and female) (2-10) years old. About 90 drought horses were naturally infected with Babesia sp. and (25) clinically normal drought horses served as control group. Results indicated that diseased drought horses were affected with acute form of the disease and they exhibited, loss of appetite, sever sweating, congested mucous membranes with Petichial hemorrhages, disinclination to move and in coordination, Pale and/ricteric mucous membranes, edema of fetlock joint, panting, depression, colic with signs of diarrhea and constipation, hemoglobin urea, muscles tremor, coughing, dehydration with rough coat and ticks were detected on different body regions. Statistically significant increase (p>0.01) were encountered in body temperature, respiratory and heart rates, however capillary refilling time were also increased significantly in diseased horses. A statistically significant decrease (p<0.01) were encountered in the TRBCs, Hb and PCV values of diseased animals, anemia was normocytic normohromic type and a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) were also encountered in the sedimentation rate of RBCs in diseased animals. The percentage of hemoparasitism (parasitemia) ranged between (5-23%) with a mean of (18.72%). A statistically significant decrease (p<0.01) were encountered in platelets count and fibrinogen and a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) were encountered in clotting time, prothrombine time and activated partial thromboplastine time in diseased horses. The results also indicated a significant increase in WBCs as a result of significant increase in lymphocytes. Results of biochemichal tests revealed significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP total bilirubin, BUN, however significant decrease in total protein values, calcium and glucose were encountered in infected horses. Serum samples were tested spectrophotometrically using c-Elisa test to detected Babesia equi and Babesia caballi, as Babesia equi detected in 86.58% and Babesia caballi detected in 54.39%, moreover mixed infection were indicated in 16.1% for both species.

How to cite this article:

K.M. Alsaad, Essra A. Alsaad and Hussein A. Al-Derawie, 2010. Clinical and Diagnostic Study of Equine Babesiosis in Drought Horses in Some Areas of Basrah Province. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 4: 16-22.

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